There was a Congressional hearing today--and nobody seemed to care

Medigate. I am truly amazed that eventhough this hearing was aired on C-Span, I haven't heard one mention of it in the national or even local news. The Republicans thwarted atempts by the Dems to get a longer than -one-hour questioning period. If it were up to the majority, the hearing would not have even taken place. Where the hell is the Kerry campaign? Where are the Dems. Why aren't they raising hell with the media and now that we have AA, why weren't people calling in and asking questions about Medigate. The Freepers listening in may have learned a thing or two about their Republican icons.

I saw Foster testify recently. He was pretty awesome, Yeah it's a relatively narrow subject area, but he knows it inside and out and it was great to see direct definitive answers to even hard questions instead of waffling and softball questions.

It's clear that it was wrong to pass the bill without having all of his expert advise on the final formula. But I got the impression that the scandal is a bit overblown. He was prevented from volunteering his analysis, but that Congress could have had his analysis if they had directly asked for it in the right way.

Frankly I think he should have snuck around it, passed a note to some Senator saying "Can't volunteer, Hold off that bill vote until you've asked me for .... "

I think they are trying now to "play down" these hearings so fewer people will watch the Condi testimony. Do you really think Bush & friends would let her testify if they thought for one minute that she couldn't "hit one out of the park?"
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Trust me, they have the goods on Clarke (even if they had to fabricate some evidence -know what I mean) and the Dems'polls, I'm afraid, will drop immediately. I really wish they hadn't had their temper tantrum over this... I think Bush wanted her to testify all along but now EVERYONE will be watching !

<<<Trust me, they have the goods on Clarke (even if they had to fabricate some evidence -know what I mean)>>>

You mean they will lie? Who would have thought! :eyes:

TPM is saying that the Dems are pushing to subpoena Badger.

http://tinyurl.com/3gjut

According to The Hill, Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee may try to subpoena Doug Badger, President Bush’s White House healthcare adviser, if he doesn't show up to testify on Capitol Hill. They want to ask him about possible White House involvement in fudging the numbers of the recent Medicare prescription drug bill.

tried three subject lines but.... it wasn't about Randi so...

<crash>

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N01268822.htm

WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Republicans on Thursday blocked Democratic attempts to make two administration players in the Medicare drug debate testify about disputed cost estimates.

The House Ways and Means Committee, in party line votes, declined to subpoena White House official Doug Badger and former Medicare head Thomas Scully to testify before the committee. The two had declined to appear at a hearing on the issue on Thursday.

Democrats have accused the Republican administration of conducting a "cover-up" of Medicare cost estimates last year as legislation to overhaul the system was being debated. snip

"The White House is clearly trying to stonewall and now senior House Republicans are complicit in that cover-up," said Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, the top Democrat on the panel. "There is something they are trying to hide."